26.05.06 – By James Slater: What a difference a trainer can make. On the night of September the 24th 1994, at Wembley arena in London, this certainly proved to be the case. Lennox Lewis was trained by Pepe Correa at the time and was, it has to be said, years away from reaching his full potential as a fighter. Yes, he had looked awesome when destroying Razor Ruddock in just two rounds a couple of years earlier, but Lennox had some major flaws too. His balance, for example, was pretty poor and he was open to certain punches. These were flaws the vocal and arrogant Correa had failed to correct. Despite boasting, “everything I touch turns to gold”, Correa was not a great trainer. The man in the corner of the fighter on the other side of the ring on the night of the 24th did, however, have that distinction..
Lennox was a still relatively new champion, making his third defence, and had so far got away with fighting while using his, still raw, natural talent. At this time Emanuel Steward – the legendary trainer and corner-man of Kronk gym fame- had his eye on Lennox. He knew how he could be beaten, and he also knew how to prevent him from losing. He later said how he was desperate to become his trainer and get his hands on him and mould him into the fighter he believed he could become. What happened in the ring in London in September paved the way for this very turn of events.
Oliver McCall was a tough, but unpredictable and unreliable fighter. He was known as a veritable head case by some figures in the sport for various reasons. It wasn’t hard for those in the audience to figure out for themselves that Ollie was kind of different. One only had to see the bizarre way he entered the ring to fight – he was in tears! Clearly Oliver McCall was somewhat unique. However, he could also be a dangerous puncher. He was not a fighter to take lightly when prepared correctly. And this he was tonight, by none other that Emanuel Steward.
A successful defence was expected by practically everyone beforehand and Lewis, defending the title in the country from which he hailed, was a big betting favourite. His hometown fans were about to witness a huge heavyweight upset!
The first round came and went without any hitches for Lennox, as he just shaded an eventless round. Back in his corner he listened to instructions from Pepe. It was later reported in at least one U.K newspaper that Correa now told Lennox to “forget everything I’ve taught you, just knock the guy out!” This allegation, if true (I cannot hear this on the version of the fight I have on tape) speaks volumes about the sheer arrogance of Correa – not to mention his lack of worth as a corner-man. In round two, barely half a minute in, McCall unleashed the punch Emanuel had worked on incessantly with him in the gym. Steward had noticed how Lewis was vulnerable to right hand counters and gave Oliver orders to throw one with all his might whenever Lennox left himself open after throwing his own shots. The plan worked perfectly as McCall, with his eyes closed, caught Lewis flush with a huge right hand that connected on his wide open chin. The champion crashed to the canvas and though he beat the count the referee – the little known Jose Garcia- waved the fight off. Oliver “The Atomic Bull” McCall was the new WBC heavyweight champion of the world.
There were protests immediately afterwards from the Lewis camp about a premature stoppage and though some agreed with the criticism of Garcia’s handling of the bout it was too late now. Lennox’s crown had gone. So too had Pepe Correa’s days as his trainer. Lennox didn’t have far to look for a replacement.
Emanuel later said how he knew Lewis was the better fighter, it was simply a case of him being poorly handled. He would now go to work on polishing Lennox as a fighter and making him realise all the potential he had. As we know, Steward did a fine job and Lennox – after being made to wait an agonisingly long time for another chance at the title- went on to become the all-time great we all rate him as today. He avenged the loss to McCall, in an absolutely surreal looking fight- in which Oliver’s tears were on display not only as he made his ring entrance, but during the action too- and regained the vacant WBC belt in the process. Lennox then went on to unify the titles with a win over Evander Holyfield. In so doing he had finally achieved what Emanuel Steward claims he knew he was capable doing of all along.
None of this seemed likely in the minutes immediately after Oliver McCall had landed that big right hand. This fight was one of the most telling examples of just how much a trainer can alter the outcome of a fight.